How can you become a star without money?

Chapter 149 Choosing her? Wouldn't that cause an uproar? [10,000-word update, please subscribe]

Regardless of whether Wang Yao is an e-commerce business owner or Ren Quan is a ticketing company owner, neither should be placed in the organizer's area.

"I was supposed to be on the other side, but I don't know why we were assigned here. Did you sponsor this?" Ren Quan was also a little confused.

"No, so that means we're basically surrounded by sponsors of major luxury brands?" Wang Yao raised an eyebrow, thinking that Deng Wendi was quite good at handling things.

“Yes, isn’t that the president of Audi’s China region sitting next to us?” Ren Quan smiled. “What’s your purpose here today?”

"You know a bunch of brands, what's up?" Wang Yao asked.

"Then you can leave after the event. You don't need to attend the banquet; leave it to me," Ren Quan said in a low voice.

He knew that Wang Yao didn't like attending social parties.

"Hmm, that works too." Wang Yao thought for a moment. Although there were a few people he could indeed befriend, it didn't seem quite right for the occasion.

After all, these closed-door dinners are like a hothouse for celebrities to mingle and socialize.

Li Bingbing didn't walk the red carpet because she has a Mercedes-Benz endorsement deal and couldn't walk the Audi red carpet, so she entered the venue early.

But with Ren Quan and Li Bingbing around, artists from Huayi School would usually come over to say hello after walking the red carpet.

Soon after, Hu Jun, Xia Yu, Qin Hailu, Tong Dawei, Huang Xiaoming and others came to visit one after another. After all, Ren Quan had already stepped out of the entertainment industry and officially entered the capital market, becoming one of their future financial backers.

They were filled with curiosity and a touch of displeasure as they looked at Wang Yao, a stranger who was engrossed in playing an iPad game.

These are all big stars. Even if you don't want to interact with them, you don't have to ignore us, do you?

Isn't it a bit impolite to look down while playing games?

However, it's quite satisfying to watch as you slice it piece by piece.

This scene was naturally captured by the media present. Wang Yao deliberately turned the screen towards the position where the media would take pictures. This rude and offensive scene towards the big stars was bound to make the headlines.

This is equivalent to giving "Water Slingshot" countless exposures.

Greeting them only brings some fake smiles, nothing compared to the real traffic they generate.
However, some people with extremely high self-esteem cannot stand this kind of disregard.

"This handsome guy looks unfamiliar? Is he Quan's friend?" After greeting Ren Quan, Huang Xiaoming took the initiative to call out Wang Yao, his tone carrying a hint of sarcasm.

Upon hearing this, Wang Yao looked up at him and smiled, then continued playing the game.

Huang Xiaoming's expression changed.

"Never mind him, he's a gamer," Ren Quan said, trying to smooth things over. "This is my boss, Wang Yao, and this is his first public appearance."

"Hmm? A movie website?" Huang Xiaoming's expression changed again, and he forced a smile. "President Wang is indeed quite focused on playing games. This looks pretty fun."

"Here, have a game." Wang Yao chuckled as he handed over the tablet.

Huang Xiaoming caught it subconsciously, his lips twitching slightly.

Does this person not understand the meaning of politeness?

“Give it a try,” Wang Yao said, raising an eyebrow.

Huang Xiaoming maintained his smile, gritted his teeth, and started a game. After experiencing the game's unique features and feel, he was instantly captivated, seemingly understanding why Wang Yao had been so focused on the game earlier.

"Wow, this is really interesting. Can this game only be played on a tablet?" Huang Xiaoming started another game.

“Mr. Huang, feel free to take it and play with it. I have a spare one here, called ‘Fruit Assassin’,” Wang Yao said with a smile.

I've even thought of the promotional material for later.

"I'm so sorry, I'll just buy one myself and download it for fun. It's perfect for the crew to pass the time." Huang Xiaoming snapped out of his reverie and realized that he was there to attend an event.

"You're not going to use this occasion to promote the game, are you?" Ren Quan already knew Wang Yao very well.

Although I don't know if Wang Yao invested in this game, I feel like he must have taken on some kind of promotion. This guy really doesn't miss any opportunity to generate traffic.

"You should try it too." Wang Yao handed over the tablet.

"I'll give it a try." Li Bingbing took it with great interest.

"Think of how much money we can save on endorsements and publicity this will save," Ren Quan said with a wry smile, shaking his head.

During their casual conversation, a flurry of camera shutters suddenly came from the entrance, catching Wang Yao's attention. He initially thought it was Fan Bingbing, but it turned out to be Wang Xiaofei and Zhang Yuqi.

The incident involving the two men was less than half a month ago, no wonder it has aroused media excitement.

Zhang Yuqi was dressed in a black dress today, with bright red lips, exuding a cold and aloof aura that kept strangers at bay. She walked ahead with a blank expression.

Behind them, Wang Xiaofei, dressed in a sharp suit, was arm in arm with his mother, Zhang Lan, both smiling broadly at the media.

The couple was supposed to have a photo taken together on the red carpet, but Zhang Yuqi didn't give the media and Wang Xiaofei that opportunity, which speaks volumes about her behavior.

It seems the rumors about Master Ba are not unfounded!
The entertainment media were naturally extremely excited.

However, after Zhang Yuqi entered, she stood at the entrance, seemingly waiting for Wang Xiaofei and her son, which was quite dignified.

Only Wang Yao, with a smile on his lips, looked at Zhang Yuqi across the distance.

As expected, after Wang Xiaofei and her son walked down the red carpet, they headed towards Ren Quan's table.

"Xiao Ren, it's been a long time." Zhang Lan gave Ren Quan a warm hug, then looked at Wang Yao with a strange glint in her eyes. "Is this the CEO Wang behind you?"

"Sister Zhang, what you're saying sounds a bit strange. He is indeed my boss, Wang Yao," Ren Quan introduced with a smile.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Zhang." Wang Yao nodded in greeting.

"Such a handsome boy, your parents must be so proud," Zhang Lan exclaimed. "Mr. Wang, would you do me the honor of having dinner together sometime soon?"

"Tomorrow or the day after should be fine," Wang Yao nodded.

“Okay, this is my son, Wang Xiaofei, who is a few years older than you,” Zhang Lan introduced.

"Mr. Wang, it's a pleasure to meet you." Wang Xiaofei extended his hand with a refined smile.

“I have often heard of Young Master Wang’s name,” Wang Yao said with a smile.

"It's all just media nonsense. This is my girlfriend, Zhang Yuqi," Wang Xiaofei said, waving his hand discreetly as he introduced Zhang Yuqi to the person beside him.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Wang." Zhang Yuqi's face, which had been cold the whole way, blossomed like an iceberg thawing.

"Nice to meet you, I'm a fan of Ms. Zhang's movies." Wang Yao said with a smile.

“That’s perfect. Mr. Wang’s company is in Shanghai. You can visit more often. If Mr. Wang has any suitable resources in the future, you can think of our Yuqi,” Wang Xiaofei said, trying to matchmake them.

"Welcome, Miss Zhang," Wang Yao nodded.

"I'll definitely go have fun," Zhang Yuqi chuckled.

Zhang Lan frowned, glanced at her son with a broad smile, then at Wang Yao and Zhang Yuqi; a woman's intuition was giving her a warning.

something wrong.

Not only her, but Zhang Meng also sensed something unusual, because Zhang Yuqi was among the guests selected for "Fairy Robe", and Zhao Liying had previously gossiped that Stephen Chow had visited Wang Yao.

Is this really the first time these two have met?
"Tsk, looks like those two slaps didn't hurt Xiao Fei much." Ren Quan said with a smile after Wang Xiao Fei and his mother left.

"Two slaps?" Wang Yao raised an eyebrow slightly. He hadn't heard many details at the time, as he was too busy chiseling at the wall.

"Yes, he rushed in and slapped us, which stunned us all. Then he turned and left. Wang Xiaofei chased after him and slapped him again, completely stunning us," Ren Quan recounted.

"A bit wild, huh?" Wang Yao chuckled.

“Indeed, it’s not something an ordinary person can tame.” Ren Quan nodded in agreement.

"Your word is a bit strange. What do you mean by 'taming'?" Li Bingbing said reproachfully.

"Uh, I didn't mean anything by it," Ren Quan said with an awkward smile.

"Be careful with your words and actions, I've told you so many times," Li Bingbing admonished.

The sound of camera shutters clicking rapidly came from the entrance again. Wang Yao looked in the direction of the sound and saw that it really was Fan Bingbing. She was wearing a light green cheongsam, with her hair styled in a classic bun and a jade chopstick as a hairpin. She seemed to be glowing.

It must be said that this woman is indeed suited to this dazzling environment; she fits it perfectly.

Among a group of Western-style formal dresses, Fan Bingbing's more Chinese-style outfit, though simple in design, was indeed extremely eye-catching.

After entering the banquet, Fan Bingbing glanced around the venue and finally looked in Wang Yao's direction, waving with a bright smile.

Everyone's eyes followed that direction.

"? Is she greeting me?" Li Bingbing was stunned.

These two are rivals in official circles, and they don't get along well in private either.

"Never mind, just treat it as if it's just the two of us." Ren Quan reacted quickly, pulling Li Bingbing along to wave in response.

The media outlets then became collectively excited.

What do you mean?
A historic reconciliation between two sides?!

This is definitely headline news.

Even the guests at the venue were in an uproar, discussing the matter animatedly.

Fan Bingbing, amidst the focus and confusion of the entire audience, finally walked over to the table where Lao Wang from Huayi worked and sat down.

The media were quite disappointed; it was just a distant echo, they thought there was some real contact.

"Is she crazy? Or is she setting a trap for me?" Li Bingbing was still somewhat shaken.

"It's okay, I'll cover for you." Ren Quan was also a little puzzled, and turned to look at Wang Yao, who was focused on cutting fruit again. "Did she greet you?"

"I don't know, I didn't notice," Wang Yao said casually, executing a 6-hit combo.

"Mr. Wang, what exactly are you collaborating on with her? Could you tell me?" Li Bingbing was genuinely curious.

With Ren Quan being such a blabbermouth, Wang Yao's collaboration with Fan Bingbing definitely couldn't be kept secret.

"Don't worry, it won't have much impact on Miss Li. However, if it succeeds, we can try to replicate it in the future," Wang Yao said with a smile.

With the arrival of the final guest, international superstar Halle Berry, the red carpet event officially ended, and many media personnel moved to the inner area, where the organizers began final adjustments.

A short while later, Su Mang and her boss took to the stage to give the opening speech, which revolved around the World Expo and environmental protection, accompanied by some public service announcements.

The actors in the audience applauded or shed tears in response.

The performance segment began with the appearance of Wonder Girls, the Korean girl group that became a global sensation last year with their song "Nobody," kicking off the show.

This opening was just an attempt to ride the wave of 'international popularity,' and it didn't really fit the atmosphere and theme of the event. The K-pop style was too noisy and jarring, and it was only suitable for performances in open spaces. However, the five girls' performance was above average.

Jessica Jung was quite excited watching from the audience. After WG finished praising her, they were even more shocked when they saw Jessica Jung during the interview.

Why are Girls' Generation members in the audience?

After they left the stage, they quickly relayed the news of Jessica Jung's appearance at the "Showroom" gala to their company.

The gala was hosted by Wu Dawei and Ke Lan, who have hosted the gala for several consecutive years, so the atmosphere during the performances was quite good, and there were no particularly awkward moments.

After Liu Qian finished his magic performance, the evening reached its true climax.

Auction paddles were placed on all the guests' tables.

The first item up for auction was indeed a vintage pink Dior haute couture gown. The bodice of the gown was decorated with metallic flowers, which did indeed shimmer under the lights, but it was not very friendly to people with obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Adhering to the principle of a simple upper body and a simple lower body, the dress features crown-shaped decorations above the knees and an oversized floor-length floral skirt, a standard European-style gown design that exudes a sense of luxury.

Starting bid: 18.888.

This auction item was clearly prepared for groups who brought female companions today, such as Huang Yi, who just married a finance professional; Wu Yanzu and his wife, who recently got married; Xia Yu and Yuan Quan, who are also married; and Wang Xiaofei and Zhang Yuqi, who are in the "honeymoon phase".

Huang Yi was the first to raise his paddle to 20, and the others followed suit.

The price reached 35 in less than two minutes.

The normal price range for this haute couture gown is around 30 yuan; anything higher is purely an emotional purchase.

In the end, only Huang Yi and Zhang Yuqi remained to compete, and all eyes were on them. "A battle between a financial tycoon and a rich second-generation," Ren Quan said with a smile.

"It's clearly a battle between the Shanghai tycoon and the Beijing tycoon," Wang Yao chuckled.

"Hey, it really is." Ren Quan was stunned for a moment, then realized what he meant.

Huang Yi and her husband are both from Shanghai, and they were almost determined to win this first prize on their home turf in Shanghai. It is likely that this part of the event was also prepared in advance by Su Mang.

Although it's called an auction, it's still an entertainment gala, so how could it deviate from the script? Every segment is pre-arranged.

The price of 35 was practically the end of the line, and the host, Ke Lan, was already anxiously counting down.

However, it cannot be ruled out that some people might be acting impulsively due to emotions.

For example, Wang Xiaofei.

Zhang Yuqi sat upright, expressionless, while Wang Xiaofei, somewhat agitated, raised his paddle again, driving the price up to 37.

Huang Yi's expression darkened noticeably. She turned to her husband, and after receiving his approval, she raised her placard again.

"39! That's a truly unexpected price, more than double the original value of the item. It's a testament to everyone's enthusiasm for charity." Ke Lan chuckled, seemingly trying to bring Wang Xiaofei to his senses.

Everyone present could hear it, and Wang Xiaofei certainly could too.

But to his surprise, Zhang Yuqi, who hadn't spoken to him for half a month, suddenly opened her mouth.

"It's a bit expensive, never mind, let her have it."

This sentence instantly ignited Wang Xiaofei's last shred of rationality.

She's willing to talk to me now?!
"40." Wang Xiaofei raised his sign again.

There was an uproar.

They won't even take the opportunity when offered one.

"Are you sick?" Zhang Lan first frowned and glanced at Zhang Yuqi, then pinched her son hard.

Spending so much money to please a woman? What a spendthrift!

"Mom, don't worry about it. Being the first to win will definitely make the headlines. Besides, I think this dress suits Yuqi very well." Wang Xiaofei said confidently, looking at Zhang Yuqi with hopeful eyes.

I want to find a way to break the ice and make up with the other person.

"41." Half a minute later, Huang Yi raised his sign again.

Wang Xiaofei wanted to add more, but Zhang Lan stopped him.

It's not that I can't afford a dress, but if I make headlines for it, how will the media write about it?
Was it a hero's rage for a beautiful woman? Or was it King You of Zhou's prank of lighting the beacon fires to amuse the feudal lords?
Wang Xiaofei has just become the CEO of Qiaojiangnan Company. So many investors are watching. You're spending a lot of money to win a smile from a beauty?
Is this the behavior of a mature CEO?

If it weren't for the presence of so many cameras, Zhang Lan would have wanted to slap him.

Seeing this, Zhang Yuqi sighed softly.

Although he didn't speak, the sigh was a huge shock to Wang Xiaofei.

But Zhang Lan had already taken the sign away. Wang Xiaofei's eyes were bloodshot. When he met his mother's even colder eyes, he suddenly came to his senses and swallowed hard.

On stage, Ke Lan quickly prepared to count down, fearing that calling someone up again would make things difficult to handle.

Huang Yi's tense heart relaxed, and she turned to her husband with a fawning smile, "Will I change it for you later?"

But before the host could finish speaking, a young, powerful, yet abrupt voice interrupted the countdown to the sale.

"45."

There was an uproar.

The media cameras, which were originally aimed at Zhang Yuqi and Huang Yi, suddenly shifted slowly, searching for who had caused this disruption.

A spotlight shines on the shoulder line of a tailored suit, the light and shadow cutting it out sharply. The hand-embroidered classic patterns on the suit, paired with a handsome profile, create a scene reminiscent of a close-up in a soap opera, appearing in the media's lens.

This is a face that is rarely seen even in the entertainment industry.

'Spark E-commerce · Wang Yao'

Everyone realized that after tonight, this name would continue to appear in major media outlets.

Finally, a handsome man has emerged in the business world!

The sound of camera shutters drowned out the noise in the venue.

The hosts on stage looked at each other in bewilderment, then glanced back at Su Mang, who also looked completely confused.

Mr. Deng didn't even inform me that this handsome young man would be participating in the auction!
Huang Yi can afford the price of 45.

But to be honest, nobody's money comes from thin air, and nobody is stupid. It's understandable that Wang Xiaofei was an accident after everyone had discussed it before, but is this stranger suspected of trying to raise the price?

We're all seasoned veterans; what kind of tricks haven't we seen?
This isn't about money.

Huang Yi's husband, who had been sitting lazily, suddenly straightened up and reached out to press down on Huang Yi's number sign.

"Honey, I'll pay for this myself." Huang Yi was getting anxious. She had prepared press releases long ago to make this a hot topic tonight.

"Buying this thing for 45? People will laugh at you." The other party shook his head coldly.

Wang Xiaofei snapped out of his daze and looked in Wang Yao's direction, his feelings somewhat complicated.

We're both young people, both rich kids, it's so great not having a mom to control us.

Upon hearing Wang Yao's voice, Zhang Yuqi's mind went completely blank. If she hadn't been digging her nails into her palms to stimulate her nerves, she probably would have given herself away long ago.

What is this brat up to?!

But he's really handsome!

Not only Zhang Yuqi, but most of the women present couldn't help but feel a strange flutter in their hearts when they looked at that beautiful and well-proportioned figure.

Women are emotional creatures, especially female celebrities. Although they are all incredibly realistic, they are also the most prone to fantasy, especially those who come from idol drama backgrounds, whose storylines are comparable to the domineering CEOs in idol dramas who spend lavishly.

They would scoff at it if it were in the play.

But if it happens to you, it's absolute ruin.

There's no better proof of love than a man spending money on you.

Fan Bingbing pursed her lips, feeling both worried and expectant.

Is this kid going to take a picture and send it to me?
When the media interviews me about this scandal, should I accept the interview or not?

Qin Hailu, who had just met Wang Yao, immediately took out her phone and started texting her best friends. They would really miss out on so much if they didn't attend this party.

In stark contrast to the female celebrities' reactions, the men present subconsciously frowned.

Especially those few billionaires, who looked at Wang Yao's young profile with a playful and curious gaze.

I wonder if this little guy is genuinely trying to win a smile from the beauty, or if he has ulterior motives?

45 might be the profit of their investment account in a few hours, but if you asked them to use it to bid on this thing, they wouldn't do it because it's meaningless.

But if the purpose of this 45 yuan is to make the people present, or even the whole country, remember the name 'Spark E-commerce', then it can only be said to be excellent value for money.

Interesting young people.

Even under the spotlight and with hundreds of eyes staring at him, Wang Yao remained unmoved. He sat with his legs crossed, his long, slender fingers gliding across the tablet computer, while his other hand held up a sign, his expression serene.

It's as if they're completely immersed in the game and can't pull themselves out.

Dude, how much did you pay me for this little game? To pose for photos and act all high and mighty?

Ren Quan, who was sitting next to him, had a twitching mouth.

For a full minute, apart from the sounds of camera shutters and other noises, the two hosts, who should have been keeping the pace of the event, remained silent.

The pressure was once again on Su Mang.

Su Mang took a deep breath and nodded in agreement.

"Okay, 45, an unexpected price. Mr. Wang from Xinghuo E-commerce is a new face. If you didn't know better, you'd think he was an actor from some company. If there aren't any higher bids, I'll start the countdown. 3." Ke Lan started the countdown after receiving the signal.

This time she counted down a little slowly, but indeed no one else was bidding.

"Ding~! Congratulations to Mr. Wang from Xinghuo E-commerce for winning this limited edition Dior evening gown for 45 yuan. Would you like to have the honor of inviting Mr. Wang to the stage to speak? I see many of the ladies are really curious about you, they've all stood up to look. We're talking about you, Zhang Jingchu. Why don't you come over and take a closer look?" The male host, Wu Dawei, started to liven up the atmosphere after the gavel fell.

This caused the entire audience to burst into laughter, and Zhang Jingchu covered his face and sat down.

"Speak for you?" Ren Quan raised an eyebrow.

"I prepared my own speech." Wang Yao chuckled as he stood up and, led by a hostess, went up on stage.

?

Ren Quan was taken aback.

This caused another uproar. When he was sitting there, I thought he was just a handsome young man, but I didn't expect him to have such a great physique.

"No whistling, everyone be more reserved." Ke Lan pretended to threaten the audience, then turned to Wang Yao with a kind smile, reaching out to touch Wang Yao's shoulder. "Mr. Wang, the pattern on your clothes is quite unique."

Her attempt to take advantage of the situation quickly drew laughter from the audience.

"It was specially made for this special gala," Wang Yao said casually, glancing sideways at the dresses that were being displayed.

"Mr. Wang, would you mind revealing the reason for bidding on this item? Besides charity, of course," Ke Lan continued.

Since things are already in chaos, we might as well give the media some new material.

"I just took these photos to study. I'm also in the clothing business, and Dior, as a major international brand, has always been one of our role models. To be included in this gala's collection, it must have something special. I'll buy it to learn from it," Wang Yao said with a smile.

This answer surprised everyone because it was too pragmatic.

Many business people in the audience frowned.

Wow, so they're really here to advertise? They've made a killing this time.

"You're not going to go back and tear it down, are you?" Wu Dawei laughed.

"Yes, that's possible." Wang Yao nodded.

This answer surprised everyone again. You really are here to make a fool of yourself?
"Such a beautiful dress should be worn by a beautiful woman to show its value. It would be such a waste to take it apart. May I give President Wang a suggestion?" Ke Lan continued to guide him after regaining her composure.

"Please go ahead," Wang Yao said with a smile.

"With so many female celebrities here, why don't you choose the one who suits you best as a special guest, change into this dress, and maybe it will give you more inspiration? You can always undo it when you get back," Ke Lan said with a smile.

The word "Ke Lan" is very interesting and most suitable, essentially giving the female celebrities in the audience the closest they could get to collaborating with Dior haute couture.

Wang Yao's statement was very positive for Dior. Although it had the suspicion of being a soft advertisement, the high price of 45 yuan was enough to prove Dior's status in China.

Moreover, whoever is selected will undoubtedly be one of the biggest focuses of the entire event, and may even have a ripple effect that impacts their future career.

She was doing her colleagues a favor.

"That's a good suggestion." Upon hearing this, Wang Yao looked down at the dimly lit audience, his gaze sweeping over the bright and beautiful faces.

When he's on stage looking at the audience, it's actually not easy for him to see people clearly.

But for those in the audience looking at him under the spotlight, the brilliance reflected in his obsidian-like eyes was almost crystal clear.

Every female celebrity who met his gaze would instinctively feel their heart skip a beat.

On one hand, there's an emotional desire; after all, everyone hopes to be chosen in this situation, as it's a great opportunity to outshine others.

On the other hand, there is the rational fear that if one is chosen, one will inevitably be embroiled in scandals.

Wang Yao's gaze first fell on Zhang Yuqi.

If we choose her, wouldn't that cause a huge uproar?
(End of this chapter)